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Salvation in a plastic cup….

According to Lao Tzu’s observation, this little fellow is as natural as he can be; cheeky little devil, too, he was, marching right up to me as I took his picture, virtually demanding I come up with a treat of some kind. I shared a small piece of my muffin with him, which he seemed to appreciate, snatching it up & devouring it right in front of me…. Afterward, though, he turned away, ignoring me completely, once he decided I was no longer a food source…. Ah well, I don’t suppose it’s unnatural for him to be a scrounge, considering where he hangs out, in the local park with all the drug dealers and their customers; food treats wouldn’t be among the stuff they drop on the ground….

Now I’ve spoken about the opening entries, where the hell am I supposed to go with this? It’s not as if I’m bursting with energy, or lacking in my usual degree of obstacles to getting this done; the day has begun with a sharp knife seemingly buried in my left shoulder, right in the joint under the scapula, a delightful condition which makes me want to bite myself already….

I have a feeling there will be some rather frightened, sweaty people going home after work today; I need to go out into the world later, to carry out some business. In the state I’m in, there is almost certainly going to be strained interactions; my tolerance for foolishness is at a premium, and there are a LOT of fools on the loose today, what with the Christmas shopping frenzy currently taking place in this country….

Oh, well, they’ll just have to watch their step, I guess, because I’m in no mood to put up with any nonsense. In truth, I (almost) enjoy forays into the commercial world this time of the year; it offers so many opportunities to let out those little annoyances that we all save up throughout the year, onto targets well-deserving of our ire, as they share their ignorance and foolish incompetence with the rest of the world, dressed up like elves….

Y’know, I think I’ll switch directions altogether here…. This one seems not to lead anywhere I’d really like to be; this season is hard enough without letting myself get all worked up over the foolishness of the world. I already know I’ll be beset by crowds of shoppers, all hurrying to complete their lists before anyone else, so they can get home to practice their egg nog recipes, or bake more fattening cookies, while humming “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” along with the Muzak playing in the elevators… However, there really isn’t any reason to let myself get worked up over any of it…. Instead, I’ll just be ruthless, ending this here, while I still have a bit of control over what may happen…. In fact, we’re leaving, now….

Deciding on a video each day has been added to those daily tasks I have set myself which fall into the PITA category after a time…. Coming up with an interesting story, or bit of music, or just an idea, or meme, is the same sort of task as finding material for ANY pearl, to wit: not as easy as it seems it would be…. This, no doubt, has to do with doing it every day; everything seems more complicated when it’s a daily ritual. A kind of importance beyond its apparent position is lent to each one, as it must hold the readers’ attention, and provide some entertainment…. That’s the idea, anyway…. Ah well, there’s no sense in complaining about it; I did it to myself, didn’t I?

Here, then, is a bit of classical music, with some cultural panache, to soothe my fevered brow…. well, maybe not fevered, but, bothered, for sure…. No worries, ffolkes, it’s self-inflicted, so, you shouldn’t have to worry about splashes…. Just enjoy the music…..

My hands are again unable to maintain typing for any length of time, necessitating another trip to the archives in order to complete today’s Pearl…. I’m not going to even comment on this one; no matter what it is, or what it’s about, it will have to do…. So be it, gigoid has spoken, for what it’s worth….

While listening to the radio one day, the DJ was talking about a meme activity he had been received via email earlier that day from a listener. The challenge was to describe your life in exactly six words; he gave several examples of those who had already responded, and asked the listening audience to call in with their own. After a couple of moments the above six words floated to the surface of my mind, almost unbidden, so I called in, and, to my surprise, my call was taken, and my quote was put out over the air.

For life, with all it yields of joy and woe,And hope and fear (believe the aged friend),Is just our chance o’ the prize of learning love,–How love might be, hath been indeed, and is.

~~ Robert Browning (1812-1890) — A Death in the Desert ~~

Considering that what I said in those six words is as true as the day, it felt kind of good. Fortunately, it didn’t lead to any more than 15 seconds of fame, the time it took to say my name, and my contribution…. It isn’t that I was hoping it would lead to an appearance on Letterman or anything, but it did feel pretty good, as I am proud of the quote….

Of course, I’ve never found the secret to getting love to stay, other than that love between friends that is so important. Our culture, so tenuous in its support of monogamy, provides people with so many ways to leave a relationship without penalty, no one seems interested in making them last an entire lifetime any more. It’s like, “Oh well, that didn’t work… there’s lots of fish in the sea….”, and, off they go into the dating world again…. Frankly, it makes me dizzy….

I can’t say I know what the problem is in society that dooms relationships these days; if I did, then it wouldn’t be a problem, as I’d know what to avoid…. What I do know is that on five occasions in my life, I’ve given my heart to a woman, and spent all my energy giving my all to that relationship, faithfully and fully. On all of those occasions, the woman eventually decided, for their own personal reasons, that they didn’t want to continue, and left. I guess they like Will Shakespeare more than I do… as they seemed to take on his attitude…

“I dote on his very absence.” — William Shakespeare (With all he wrote, even HE came up with something coherent occasionally….)

I’ve been fortunate, I guess, in that of those five times, only three were painful in their intensity; two of them were relatively amicable breakups. But, it hurts when a woman I’ve loved for 23 years, and intended to die with, decides she’d rather pursue other options; it hurts, a lot…. It also hurts when a woman has said she loved me for ten years, and has been lying the whole time…. that kind of betrayal has a very lasting pain, and is slow to pass…

I hear you reproach, “But delay was best,For their end was a crime.” Oh, a crime will doAs well, I reply, to serve for a testAs a virtue golden through and through,Sufficient to vindicate itselfAnd prove its worth at a moment’s view! . . . . . .Let a man contend to the uttermostFor his life’s set prize, be it what it will!The counter our lovers staked was lostAs surely as if it were lawful coin;And the sin I impute to each frustrate ghostIs–the unlit lamp and the ungirt loin,Though the end in sight was a vice, I say.

~~ Robert Browning (1812-1890) — The Statue and the Bust ~~

Pain is an old friend, though, in all its various guises, and I know it always passes in time. Now I am looking for love again, in my own time, still trying to find that one woman who can be both loving and honest, over time. The ones I’ve known so far have all had a problem with that last part…. it’s not something our society teaches well. But, until I find her, I’ll have to make do with the pain…. But, I know she is out there, somewhere….. There’s got to be some woman who would enjoy being worshiped by an old, fading, but faithful, romantic curmudgeon with a soft spot for dogs, cats, and kids….

In the desert a fountain is springing, In the wide waste there still is a tree,And a bird in the solitude singing, Which speaks to my spirit of thee.

~~ Lord Byron (1788-1824) — Stanzas to Augusta ~~

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The above is, of course, merely a complaint, during one of those days when being alone was becoming tiresome…. To prevent falling into a rut, here is a poem, of mine, which speaks to another subject entirely…. In fact, it’s my most recent poem, and speaks to more than one subject…. I think…

A dream, weeping….

“Never a dull moment to spare”, he saidwith a crooked grin, and a broad wink.“Can’t keep Reality hanging by a thread….what would Chaos, or Entropy think?”

So, we plucked up our dreams of old,to carry us on, in dutiful, strong arms,stuffed a candle in the remaining fold,for luck, and perfect proof against charms.

Storms follow the sun, but, never stay; lessons round every corner, all free.Past fleeting doubts, in a sad disarray,the journey becomes the reason to be.

Simple kindness manifests untold riches,in defiance of common cause’s demise.Bold courage, hanging in stitches,mends wounds that come as no surprise.

Still, waters run deep, ’tis said by many.Too much pain cannot apprehendthe salient, sharp points of epiphany,nor, plainly, to wisdom aspire to pretend.

Folly dogs even the simplest truth,fumes of toxic ignorance and bile,alienated as a loose rotten tooth;it often hides itself, for a long while.

Sought after eons ago, we cried out,to believe, to suffer no more doubt.But found instead good reason,for love, and truth, from season, to season.

~~ gigoid ~~

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Okay, so, I gave Smart Bee its head yesterday, and this is what it came up with, after a period of conflict over whether or not it would be done at all… I won…. It seems to be another pearl addressing how to express human nature with some dignity, and how to maintain one’s honorable opinion of one’s self….

“He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another.” — Seneca

“An ancient buddha said, Mountains are mountains; waters are waters. These words do not mean mountains are mountains; they mean mountains are mountains.” — Dogen

“No man is an Island, entire of it self; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” — John Donne (c.1571-1631) — Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1624) “Meditation XVII”

“One should seek virtue for its own sake and not from hope or fear, or any external motive. It is in virtue that happiness consists, for virtue is the state of mind which tends to make the whole of life harmonious.” — Diogenes Laertius (c. 200 AD) — Zeno, (B.C. 335?-264), liii

“Since we cannot know all that is to be known of everything, we ought to know a little about everything.” — Blaise Pascal

“A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.” — Albert Einstein

“Depend not on fortune, but on conduct.” — Publius Syrus

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Regardless of how any of this came out, it will have to do, as I don’t have the time, or the wherewithal, to go back & start over…. In any case, I’m calling it done, and beating a retreat while I still can…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes…. I don’t seem to be able to stop myself….

Y’all take care out there, and May the Metaphorse be with you;Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark, and Theresa…and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.When I sits, I sits loose.When I thinks, I falls asleep.